1,380 research outputs found
Harmonious Living: Sustainability, Ecology, and Eco-Islam in Wales
This thesis is an in-depth examination of Eco-Islam in Wales. Eco-Islam refers to the conceptual intersection of Islamic principles with environmental and ecological concerns. It is not necessarily a formalised movement with a centralised structure but rather a broader concept that explores the compatibility between Islamic teachings and environmental stewardship. It emphasises the idea that Islamic values and ethics can be applied to address contemporary environmental challenges. This dissertation addresses the question of the normative influence of Islamic environmental principles and their implementation within Welsh Muslim communities and Welsh society. More generally, this thesis is embedded in the academic discourse on the normative role and agency of religions in motivating their members to engage in proenvironmental behaviour. Given the urgency of the environmental crisis facing humanity, which requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society, the research question of this thesis is particularly relevant.
Furthermore, despite the growing body of literature on ecology and Islam, there has been little research on the practical implementation of Islamic teachings on nature. Therefore, whilst giving a comprehensive overview of Islamic environmental ethics based on a literature review, the thesis also provides research data on the Eco-Islam movement based on fieldwork conducted in Wales. Particular attention is paid to the social and power structures that contribute to or hinder the development of a Muslim environmental movement.
The study provides practical recommendations for better cooperation between faith communities and the (still) predominantly secular environmental movement, with particular attention to the challenges faced by minority communities such as the Muslim communities in Wales
Different Attitudes to Esotericism in Peter Ackroyd's and Dan Brown's Novels
In this doctoral dissertation, two differing approaches to the fictional utilisation of esoteric motifs are compared in the selected novels by contemporary British writer Peter Ackroyd and American writer Dan Brown. They represent contemporary Anglophone literature and draw their inspiration from a similar pool of esoteric ideas. On the one hand, Peter Ackroydâs profound obsession with Englishness and the English literary tradition positions him as a visionary literary figure among fiction writers. By employing anti-realist methods, he offers brand new looks through his transcendental interpretations of both existent and non-existent events and characters from English literary history and culture. In contrast, Dan Brown uses conspiratorial accounts of existing religio-cultural (hi)stories and presents them as alternative historical narrations. These variables underlie the authorsâ unique ways of representing occult ideas in their literary endeavours. Being the products of the latest centuries, the novels under study can be categorised within the realms of postmodern literature, with realist elements in Dan Brownâs works. Contemporary literature significantly benefits from the diverse array of occult practices, presented in particularly intriguing manner. Therefore, the primary objective of this dissertation is to explore the use of such esoteric conventions in the contemporary literary contexts crafted by these two widely acclaimed authors. Through the analysis of selected novels by Peter Ackroyd and Dan Brown, my research postulates the questions of how and to what extent esoteric motifs affect the historiography in Peter Ackroydâs novels and the factual aspects of Dan Brownâs fictions. Furthermore, I aim to identify the motivations that drive these authors to take resources in esotericism. I believe that the findings to these inquiries will help in filling the existing gap in the comparative study of Peter Ackroydâs and Dan Brownâs novels and contribute to the broader exploration of contemporary literary representations of esotericism
Posthuman Creative Styling can a creative writerâs style of writing be described as procedural?
This thesis is about creative styling â the styling a creative writer might use to make their writing
unique. It addresses the question as to whether such styling can be described as procedural. Creative
styling is part of the technique a creative writer uses when writing. It is how they make the text more
âlivelyâ by use of tips and tricks they have either learned or discovered. In essence these are rules, ones
the writer accrues over time by their practice. The thesis argues that the use and invention of these
rules can be set as procedures. and so describe creative styling as procedural.
The thesis follows from questioning why it is that machines or algorithms have, so far, been
incapable of producing creative writing which has value. Machine-written novels do not abound on
the bookshelves and writing styled by computers is, on the whole, dull in comparison to human-crafted
literature. It came about by thinking how it would be possible to reach a point where writing by people
and procedural writing are considered to have equal value. For this reason the thesis is set in a
posthuman context, where the differences between machines and people are erased.
The thesis uses practice to inform an original conceptual space model, based on quality dimensions
and dynamic-inter operation of spaces. This model gives an example of the procedures which a
posthuman creative writer uses when engaged in creative styling. It suggests an original formulation
for the conceptual blending of conceptual spaces, based on the casting of qualities from one space to
another. In support of and informing its arguments are ninety-nine examples of creative writing
practice which show the procedures by which style has been applied, created and assessed. It provides
a route forward for further joint research into both computational and human-coded creative writing
Speculative futures on ChatGPT and generative artificial intelligence (AI): a collective reflection from the educational landscape
While ChatGPT has recently become very popular, AI has a long history and philosophy. This paper intends to explore the promises and pitfalls of the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) AI and potentially future technologies by adopting a speculative methodology. Speculative future narratives with a specific focus on educational contexts are provided in an attempt to identify emerging themes and discuss their implications for education in the 21st century. Affordances of (using) AI in Education (AIEd)and possible adverse effects are identified and discussed which emerge from the narratives. It is argued that now is the best of times to define human vs AI contribution to education because AI can accomplish more and more educational activities that used to be the prerogative of human educators. Therefore, it is imperative to rethink the respective roles of technology and human educators in education with a future-oriented mindse
DoÄuĆ University 1st International Conference on English Language and Literature, Loneliness and Isolation in Literature (DIDE2023) abstract proceedings 07-09, July, 2023
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the âDoÄuĆ University 1st International Conference on English Language and Literature, Loneliness and Isolation in Literature (DIDE2023) Proceedingsâ We are pleased to present this compilation showcasing the academic excellence and innovative research presented during the conference.
As the editor of this proceedings, I am very grateful to all the esteemed scholars, researchers, and speakers who contributed their valuable insights and ideas to make this conference a resounding success. Their engagement in the field of English language and literature has enriched our understanding of the theme of loneliness and isolation in literature and illuminated the complexity of these profound feelings in literary works.
In the following pages, you will find a variety of scholarly articles that address a wide range of issues surrounding loneliness and isolation in literature. From classic literary masterpieces to contemporary works, this collection offers a comprehensive exploration of the topic, allowing readers to gain new perspectives and engage in critical discussions.
Our sincere thanks go to the conference organizing committee, whose careful planning and efforts made this event possible. We also extend special thanks to the reviewers, whose expertise and constructive feedback helped maintain the academic rigor and quality of the papers presented.
In addition, I would like to thank the attendees who participated in the lively discussions, thus ensuring a vibrant academic environment throughout the conference. Your active participation and enthusiasm undoubtedly contributed to the success of this event.
Finally, I would like to thank the editorial team for their diligent work in compiling and organizing this conference volume. Your commitment to excellence has ensured that the ideas presented at the conference will be preserved for future reference and academic exploration.
It is my hope that the conference proceedings, "DoÄuĆ University 1st International Conference on English Language and Literature, Loneliness and Isolation in Literature (DIDE2023) Proceedings," will serve scholars, students, and literature lovers as a valuable resource that encourages further research and stimulates intellectual curiosity in this captivating field.
We thank you for your participation in this enriching scholarly journey and look forward to continued collaboration and knowledge sharing in future endeavors
What It Means to Have Meaning: AIâs Poetic Appropriation of the Human Imagination
This thesis is an exploration of human imagination and creativity as it pertains to poetry. With the rise of âintelligentâ machines, it is the duty of scholars, thinkers, philosophers, and artists to gauge the ethics of using robots to create art, create information, and create in general. With that in mind, this thesis aims to distinguish the definitions of natural and artificial intelligence. This distinction is at the heart of what makes poetry inherently human. AI poses a threat to poetry and the act of artistic expression. Additionally, AI poses a threat to the human imagination. The aim of the critical paper is to expose these truths regarding artificial intelligence. Thus, reclaiming poetry and the act of creativity. The creative manuscript, Random Access Memories, is an experiment to see if the reader can tell what is human and what is not, and a showcase of just how far AI has come to stealing what is inherently human
Vocational tertiary education of young adults in Kenya: model development
The purpose of this study is to create a model of tertiary vocational education in Kenya. Despite considerable progress in Kenya over the last 20 years, current education models, low attendance, and low academic proficiency levels preclude many vulnerable learners from becoming employable. Utilizing semi-structured interviews of eight Kenyan participants, this study explores the testable design principles necessary to create such a micro-trade model. Utilizing Epistemic Network Analysis (ENA), a quantitative ethnographic technique, to model the structure of connections in data, this study attempts to systematically identify a set of constructs, as they are recorded in interview codes, connected to one another within these interviews. Two intellectual parallels emerged pertaining to the lack of fundamental and essential needs many Kenyans experience as well as salient issues of corruption often hindering the development of Kenya\u27s politics, economy, and democracy. It was imperative that a targeted approach to education was maintained and underpinned the trajectory of the micro-trade model when identifying the design principles for this study. This study reports the finding that a fresh model of tertiary vocational education, micro-trade, could impact the ability of vulnerable youth to become economically independent. It proposes such a model appearing in Chapter 4, schematizing barriers to tertiary education, microtrade as a response to those barriers through the lens of Kirkpatrick\u27s model of education, and aspirational results from careful design and blend of Kirkpatrick\u27s model with microtrade. Such design and blending through design-based research constitute proposed next steps for this effort
On The Search for a More Sustainable Stage â Mapping the Perspectives of a Performance Designer
This article outlines the concept of performance design, dealing with the transformative work of performance designers and exploring it through contemporary concepts and artistic means. The article considers where the performance designer has an updated place in the geography of performing arts, what kind of encounters the designer experiences, and what kind of socio-cultural adaptation and learning the work may require and offer. The article discusses the topic with the photographs from the authorâs site-sensitive memos and proposes an alternative method of performance design
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